Harvesting tool or implement.



W. E. GUNN.

HARVESTING TOOL 0B. IMPLEMENT'.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY so. 1914.

1,1 33,021 Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

314 uca/V601,

Wil/iam Z. Gaim PHOTO-LITHO.. WA'SHINGTGN, D. C.

THE NoRmS PETERS C0..

WILLIAM E. GULNN, or F'EnRY, ,MICHIGAN- I-IARVESTING TOOL 0RIIVIPLEIVI'ENT.

ment isespecially designed by me as a toolA for harvesting beans, peasand the like by hand and I have shown my improvements in theaccompanyingY drawings as I have embodied them for that purpose.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide an improvedharvesting tool or implement for harvesting beans, peas and the 'likewhich is an adaptationof a common type of fork to the purpose. Second,to provide an improved tool or imple-V ment of the class described whichenables the rapid and easy harvesting by hand of crops such as beans,peas and the like.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description togfollow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention bythe devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. .The invention 1s clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which. is a preferred embodiment of my invention Vis clearlyillustratedy in the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification, in which:

Figure I is a front perspective view of a device embodying the featuresof my invention, the handle being broken away. Fig. II is a detailsection on a line corresponding to line 2 2 of Fig.- I. Fig. III is anenlarged detail section through the cutting blade on a linecorresponding to line 3 3 of Fig. I. Fig. IV is a detail frontperspective view of a modified form of my invention, the modificationbeing in the form of the blade supporting arm and the manner of securingit to the handle. Fig. V is a detail section on a line corresponding toline 5-5 of Fig. IV. Fig. VI is a detail front perspective of a stillfurther modification in which two of the tines of the fork are modifiedor adapted to constitute blade supporting arms.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the Specicaton of Lettersvatent.

.dered at 8 to embrace V jacent the head of the several views, and thesectional views are taken looking in the direction of the littlearrowsat the ends of the lsection lines.

Referring to the drawing, the; fork l illustrated is a siX tine fork ofwell known form. The handle 2 is provided with a ferrulev 3 as is commonpractice. A cutting blade 4 is disposed below and in av spaced relationtothe ends of the tines. This cuttingV blade is carried by4 an arm 5,which is disposed below and in a spaced relation tothe tines. In thestructure shown in Figs. I and II the arm -5 is provided with a T-shapedclamp member 6 at its upper end disposed on the under side of thehandle, the cross portion? ofthe clamp engage the head 9fof the fork.The cliplO is disposed to, vembrace the ferrule 3 close to the head ofthe fork and the clip ll to embrace the handle 2 above the ferrule. Thusarrangedthe clamp serves to reinforce the handle and the y fork with anadditional support effectively withstand the they are subjected in use.

The central trated aremdisposedV so that there is a yspacev between inalinement with the handle. The arm 5 is centrallydisposed below thisspace.y vThe arm 5 isoffset downwardly at 12 adfork vso that the bodyportion ofv the, arm is substantially parallel with the tines. Thisarrangement renders clogging. between the `tines and the blade and thetines and armquite unlikely. i

In use the implement `is pushed forward in a manner similar to a shufiiehoe with thfe blade 4 under the ground severing the plants as the toolis pushed along the row. The tops fall vupon and are gathered by thetines ofthe fork so that they may be throwninto piles or rows ordirectly upon a wagon. The tines are supported so that they move alongabove the ground as the implement is pushed along the row so that verylittle dirt is gathered thereby. y

In the modified structure shown in Figs. IV and V the arm 5 is formedwith or welded tothe ferrule 3, thev fork 1 being provided with a shank13 which is driven into the end of the handle, as shown in Fig. V. Thearm 5 is forked or bifurcated, the ends of the blade being riveted tothe arms of the fork.

In the modication shown in Fig. VI the Patented Mar. es, 19151,Application filed July 3o, 1914. serial No. 854,039.

member being .shoul A the under side and is 'also providedso thatthevpartsf, strains to f which pair of tines in the forkillus'- bladesupporting arms 14 are formed from tines of the fork, the tines beingbent down to support the blade in its proper spaced relation to thetines of the fork. The structure shown in Fig. I however, is preferredby me as many forks now in use may be usfed. Y

lMy improved harvesting implement is comparatively easy and convenientto use and greatly facilitates the harvesting of crops such as beans. Itis obvious that it may be used for other purposes.

I have illustrated andy described my improvements in the form preferredby me and certain modifications thereof. @ther modifications will nodoubt suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which thisinvention relates. I desire to be understood as claiming my improvementsspecifically in the form illustrated as well as broadly within the scopeof the appended. claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a hand implement, the combination of a fork provided with a handlehaving a ferrule, a narrow cutting blade disposed below the ends of thetines in a spaced relation thereto, a blade supporting arm disposedbelow and in a spaced relation to the tines, a T-shaped clamp member forsaid arm disposed below said ferrule, the cross portion of the clampmember being shouldered to engage the under side of the head of thefork, said arm being offset downwardly from the said clamp member andconstituting a shoe for the implement, and a pair of clips for saidclamp member, one of the clips being disposed to embrace said ferruleclose to the head of the fork and the other the handle above theferrule.

2. In a hand implement, the combination of a fork provided with ahandle, a narrow cutting blade disposed` below the ends of the tines ina spaced relation thereto, a blade supporting arm disposed below and ina spaced rela-tion to the tines, and an attaching member for said armdisposed below said handle and shouldered to engage the under side ofthe head of the fork, said arm being offset downwardly from the saidclamp member.

3. In a hand implement, the combination of a fork provided with ahandle, a cutting blade disposed below the tines and in a spacedrelation thereto, a blade supporting arm disposed below and in a spacedrelation to the tines, and a clamp for detachably securing said arm tosaid handle.

4. In a hand implement, the combination of a fork, a handle, the tinesof the fork being disposed so that there is a central space alined withthe handle between the inner pair of tines, a cutting blade disposedbelow the ends of the tines and in a spaced relation thereto, and ablade supporting arm disposed below said central space and in a spacedrelation to the tines and substantially parallel therewith, said armbeing rigidly connected to the handle.

5. In a hand implement, the combination of a fork, a handle, a cuttingblade disposed below the tines and in a spaced relation thereto, and ablade supporting arm disposed below and in a spaced relation to thetines and substantially parallel therewith, said arm being rigidlyconnected to the handle.

6. In a hand implement, the combination of a fork, a handle, and acutting blade disposed in a plane below the plane of the tines of saidfork when the tines are in an approximately horizontal position, theblade being spaced from the tines.

7. In a hand implement, the combination of a forlna handle, and acutting blade disposed in a spaced relation to and in the rear of thetines of said fork, all coacting for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. GUNN. [1.. s]

Witnesses:

E. Il. BENTON, MAUD BAUN.

loples of this patent may be obtained 01' ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of *.Patenta,

` Waahington, D.

